When I hear the words ‘new strategy launch’ in the context of the charity sector, it does not often stir my interest, but I must confess the new strategy launched by NCVO recently certainly did just that!

Have you seen it yet? I was taken by the confident nature of the document but even more so by the focus on driving advocacy and strategic influence. I was just so encouraged to see those words in this strategy.

I clearly remember NCVO back in the early 2000s when they developed their campaigning effectiveness programme under the inspirational leadership of Chris Stalker. At the time it was a visionary thing to do to look to build the capacity and confidence of the charity sector to speak out and use our experience and knowledge to push for policy and practice change.

So many great things came out of that initiative such as training courses, publications, and the trailblazing certificate in campaigning. But when the funding ran out and the political climate got a bit icier, it seemed to me that NCVO began to lose interest in this part of the role of a charity sector.

This was a really sad development for our sector, but it was great that others were able step into this gap most notably the excellent work undertaken by the Sheila McKechnie Foundation. But I would’ve hoped that the charity representing charities would have been extolling, in a far greater way, the importance of advocacy and campaigning across their membership and the wider country, and supporting their members to do so as a fundamental part of being a charity.

So, at this increasingly challenging time for the charity sector, politically, socially and economically, it is just so encouraging to see NCVO talking about the importance of driving advocacy and strategic influence in their new strategy.

And to see these words in the strategy seems so important in the current moment: “The ability of civil society to shape public policy, narrative, decision-making and the wider conditions in which it operates, ensuring the sector’s voice, expertise and lived

experience are recognised and acted upon.”

And then later in that the document to see this expressed intent: “Support more organisations to confidently participate in influencing and public debate.”

A healthy democracy needs its civil society to have the capacity and confidence to be able to speak out, based on its experience, never showing political partiality, but focussed on its mission, being ready to make the case for change.

If you haven’t seen the new strategy do take a look, and I for one will be following developments with great interest. I know words are the easy bit, it is all about action. But I am hopeful – are you?

To find out more about Jonathan’s work, do visit his website:  https://jonathanelliscampaigns.com